Common Name:

General Information

Coccinia rehmannii is a perennial, herbaceous, climbing or scrambling plant producing stems up to 5 metres long from a large, tuberous rootstock. The slender stems scramble over the ground or clamber into the surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of tendrils[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its edible roots and fruit, which are eaten locally.

Known Hazards

The fruits are said to cause sore eyes[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Wooded grassland, woodland and coastal dunes; at elevations from sea level to 1,850 metres[]. Understorey of trees and shrubs[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[]. Rich in starch, it is usually roasted[]. After cooking, the root is peeled then pounded and mixed with leafy vegetables[]. The root can be hard to obtain because it is 50cm or more deep in the soil[].

Fruits - raw[]. They are eaten by children, even though they are said to cause sore eyes[]. The fruit is considered inedible in some areas[]. The fruit is around 2cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is half of 100?